Supporting disc for packaging cut flowers and the like

ABSTRACT

A supporting and spacing disc for a conical paper flower container. The disc has a plurality of spaced tear-shaped openings for flower stems disposed adjacent its peripheral edge, and a single opening disposed in the central portion thereof. For simple flower removal, the disc is slotted between each tearshaped opening and the peripheral edge, and is perforated between the central opening and at least one peripheral opening.

United States Patent [1 1 Bachman et a1.

[ Oct. 23, 1973 [22] Filed:

[ SUPPORTING DISC FOR PACKAGING CUT FLOWERS AND THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Carl E. Bachman; Richard E.

Miller; Edwin H. Smoots, all of Minneapolis, Minn.

[73] Assignee: The Pillsbury Company,

Minneapolis, Minn.

Oct. 14, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 189,243

[52] US. Cl. 229/7 R, 47/34.l1, 47/41.1l,

[51] Int. Cl B65d 83/00, 365d 3/06 [58] Field of Search 229/7 R, 87 P; 206/46 PL; 47/41.l1, 34.11, 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,058,585 10/1962 Budd 206/46 PL 786,547 4/1905 Chamberlin 206/46 PL 3,580,196 5/1971 Lofgreen 47/9 2,486,932 11/1949 Elliott 47/4l.ll X

4/1968 Leonard 229/87 P X Primary ExaminerGeorge E. Lowrance Assistant ExaminerStephen P. Garbe Attorney-Ronald E. Lund et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A supporting and spacing disc for a conical paper flower container. The disc has a plurality of spaced tear-shaped openings for flower stems disposed adjacent its peripheral edge, and a single opening disposed in the central portion thereof. For simple flower removal, the disc is slotted between each tear-shaped opening and the peripheral edge, and is perforated between the central opening and at least one peripheral opening.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIED MI 2 3 I115 16 5 m M/ V MAMW 5. M EE. fi/ T. D mam mam fa @010 SUPPORTING DISC FOR PACKAGING CUT FLOWERS AND THE LIKE The invention is related generally to plant containers, and is specifically directed to a disc for supporting and spacing cut flowers in a conical paper container.

One of the more common practices employed in the sale of cut flowers is wrapping the purchased bouquet in paper or a similar pliable material to form a conical container. While this form of wrapping has the distinct advantage of being inexpensive, it offers little protection to the flowers and often results in damage to both blossoms and leaves.

Al alternative solution to the problem is effected through provision of a more rigid container. However, this has a disproportionate effecton overall cost of the bouquet, particularly where less expensive flowers are concerned, and ordinarily creates or increases the problem of container storage before use.

Our invention is directed to a supporting disc which is insertable into the mouth of a paper wrapping cone to maintain its form and offer support thereto. The disc includes a plurality of openings into which flower stems are placed to keep the individual flowers spaced and fully protected, and perforations or slots between the openings and the disc edge permit easy removal without damage to the flowers. v

Preferably the discs are formed from low cost, thin plastic which is easy to store and has a negligible effect on bouquet costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1-3, a bouquet consisting of a plurality of flowers 11 is shown wrapped in a container represented generally by the numeral 12. In its most conventional form, container 12 comprises ordinary wrapping paper rolled into the shape of a cone having a closed, pointed bottom 13 and an open-mouthed top l4.

In order to better define the open mouth 14 and preof self-support, and, in combination with paper container 12, provides a sufficiently protected package for the flowers 11. g

As best seen in FIG. 3, disc 15 includes a plurality of tear-shaped openings 16 disposed adjacent its periphery and pointing radially outward; and a centrally disposed circular opening 17. Openings 16 and 17 are sized to receive the stems of flowers 11 and are equidistantly spaced to provide a sufficient distance therebetween.

To facilitate removal of flowers 11 from disc 15, the disc is slit between one of the openings 16 and its peripheral edge, as shown at 18. For removal of the flower disposed in the central openings 17, disc 15 is perforated between opening 17 and at least one of the openings 16, as shownat 19, to be frangible at that point. Preferably, disc 15 is frangibly perforated between central opening 17 and a plurality of the openings 16, as shown in FIG. 3.

In use, a paper cone 12 is formed in the known manner, and disc 15 is inserted into the cone mouth as shown in FIG. 2. Disc 15 is held frictionally, or it can be taped in place. The stems of flowers 11 are then inserted into the openings 16 and 17, resulting in a protected bouquet'of spaced flowers. It will also be appreciated that, by reason of the specific number of openings l6 and 17, disc 14 causes the number of flowers per bouquet to be uniformly maintained.

For flower removal, the paper cone 12 is separated from the disc 15, and the flowers held in the openings 16 are removed through the associated slots 18. Disc 15 is then broken along the frangible perforations 19 (FIG. 4), and the remaining flower disposed in central opening 17 is removed.

It will be apparent that the disc and cone combination provide an inexpensive, disposable package for a bouquet which offers complete, spaced protection to the stems, leaves and petals of each flower.

What is claimed is:

I 1. In combination:

a. a conical container of pliable material for flowers and the like;

b. and a supporting disc disposed in the mouth portion of the conical container, the disc being formed from flexible, self-supporting material and having a plurality of stem receiving openings disposed proximate its peripheral edge and an opening in the central portion thereof, the disc being slotted between each peripheral opening and the peripheral edge, and having a line of perforations being disposed between said centrally disposed opening and at least one of said peripheral openings, and being 'frangible along said line. 

1. In combination: a. a conical container of pliable material for flowers and the like; b. and a supporting disc disposed in the mouth portion of the conical container, the disc being formed from flexible, selfsupporting material and having a plurality of stem receiving openings disposed proximate its peripheral edge and an opening in the central portion thereof, the disc being slotted between each peripheral opening and the peripheral edge, and having a line of perforations being disposed between said centrally disposed opening and at least one of said peripheral openings, and being frangible along said line. 